TOMKINS: TORRES HAS IMPROVED

Paul Tomkins 29 April 2009
	Recently I've noted the importance of goals by Dirk Kuyt and Yossi Benayoun; observing that, this season, both had only struck goals that affected games, rather than grabbing consolation or luxury strikes.
It led me to examine this phenomenon further, and analyse the importance of goals scored by the whole squad. “A goal is a goal”, some might say. But the value of each varies radically, depending on the stage of the game or the quality of the opposition. We often rank goals by their beauty, but rarely by their importance. No-one can deny the aesthetics of Fernando Torres' opener against Blackburn: a sublime turn and volley out of nothing. Genius. But what made it more special was the context: it helped win a must-win game. It kept Liverpool in a title race. It was beauty with meaning and substance. It was Carla Bruni rather than Paris Hilton. To me, if you win 3-2, the first and second goals are as important as the winner. But if you win 5-2, the fourth goal is marginally less important (although it provides a valuable cushion), and the fifth has slightly less importance still, as it effectively kills the game, but you may have been able to hold out for the win without it. However, a sixth, seventh or eighth goal would be pretty meaningless if it's a knockout cup competition, and only really relative to goal difference in the league. The same applies to consolation goals in league games already lost. (And while goal difference can be important, it's once in a blue moon that it makes a major impact on league standings; until Howard Webb's intervention at Old Trafford, it looked like this could have been one such year, at which point every goal Liverpool scored would have seen its meaning magnified tenfold). It's important to point out that even a so-called luxury goal can have consequences that reach beyond the result; for instance, it's highly unlikely that Andrea Dossena scores the 4th goal at Old Trafford so effortlessly had he not smashed in what was, in terms of Liverpool beating Real Madrid, an ‘unnecessary' goal a few days earlier. And then there's the psychological fillip of beating Madrid by four goals, not three; that extra boost it gives can actually be quite significant. So Dossena's goals in both games not only provided a gloss, they also added to the belief of the entire team. With this in mind, I want to make it clear that I don't wish to demean any goal; as the cliché goes, in many ways they all count equal, whether scored in the first minute or last, or via a backheel or a backside. However, there's no escaping the fact that some are crucial, while others ice the cake or provide only consolation. So for the book I'm currently working on, as part of a detailed look into how the Reds have improved to the point of making an impressive title challenge, I decided to go through and rank each of the goals over the past two seasons on a descending scale, working only with Premiership and Champions League games (with domestic cups being more about squad players these days, and not the main priority of any major club). I have tried to judge the importance of goals in two different ways, awarding a sliding scale of points, out of 5, for each category. First, there is the impact the goal has on a result, from 5 points for being vital, down to 1 point for a mere Goal Difference or Consolation goal. Then there is the quality of opposition, with 5 points for a goal against Top Four and big European sides (plus Everton, on account of the derby bite, particularly now that they are a good side again), and less points for goals against weaker teams. These ratings are somewhat subjective, although they are based on the league position of opposing teams, and the relevance to the overall result in terms of importance, both of which are hard to argue with from a factual point of view. Now, as ever when I devise stats, they are not designed to be 100% scientific or totally conclusive. It is merely a tool – a form of quantifying and qualifying contributions – to enable me to see who pops up with vital goals in big games, and who, though he may score a good amount of goals, gets lots at the end of handsome thrashings or against substandard teams. There's obviously not room here to disclose the full findings, which will be laid out in full in ‘Red Race'. And, of course, this season isn't complete yet, so it's an ongoing calculation. Caveats aside, the results are still very interesting. The first thing that strikes me on the data so far is that Fernando Torres has actually improved this season. Radically. Despite playing numerous games handicapped by a lack of match fitness, with at least five/six matches coming whilst returning from significant injuries, his goals have actually influenced games more than last season, when the overall goal tally was far higher, but the average value less. His 13 league goals have almost all been vital (an average of 4.8 out of a possible 5), whereas last year his 24 included a few more goals that did not influence the result, just glossed the scoreline (thus a lower average of 4.3, which is still impressive). And the value of his Champions League goals also went up this season, even though the quantity was again lower, again due to missing lots of games though injury. More tellingly, there has been a massive increase in the quality of league opposition scored against, with an average rising from 2.9 last season (with 3 being the figure of a middling Premiership team and 2 relegation fodder), to a whopping 4.1 so far this season, with 4 being a team in the Uefa Cup spots and 5 being a team in the top four. In other words, the majority of his league goals last season were against mid-table or poor opposition (such as Derby, Middlesbrough and West Ham), whereas this season they've mostly been against the top four sides and Everton. When combining both the importance of the goals and the quality of the opposition, Torres' figures this season are almost perfect. If 5 is scoring only vital goals against the best opposition, and 1 is luxury goals against poor sides, then you can see for yourself what 4.7 means. So not only has his strike rate remained very impressive, his goals are a big reason why Liverpool have gone up a level this season. It's just a shame he wasn't able to play more games, particularly in a lot of the 0-0 draws. As mentioned earlier, it was the goals of Benayoun and Kuyt that got me thinking about the subject in the first place. Both of these players have had their critics in the past two seasons, although hopefully everyone will now appreciate the quality that they bring. Their form deserves credit, and as with most players, neither's game is purely about goalscoring, as they continue to contribute in key ways. What's interesting is that last season, each of Benayoun's four league goals was absolutely vital, while Kuyt's three were equally important. Of course, the latter had a disappointing league campaign in front of goal, but at least those three counted for something, not least in winning at Goodison Park. For the Dutchman, it was the Champions League where he did his best work last time around, whereas this time he's into double figures for the Premiership, a great achievement for a non-penalty taking (this season at least) wide man. This season, out of the players who have scored five league goals or more, that pair lead the way, just edging ahead of Torres, with their average of 5. Benayoun's six have all been 100% vital, and only Kuyt's 10th league goal of the season, last weekend at Hull, was anything less than critical; and even that was of great value in easing the nerves, at 3-1. Liverpool may have seen out the game at 2-1, which is why I'd rate it as 4/5 in terms of importance; not 100% vital, but a telling contribution all the same. (For the record, I've counted Kuyt's goal at Spurs as vital, even though Liverpool lost; ultimately it was a very important goal at the time that it was scored, and that's a key distinction. All goals that put the team into the lead or draw the side level are rated as essential, in spite of the final result.) However, neither Kuyt nor Benayoun have come close to Torres for the quality of league opposition scored against, with Gerrard 2nd in that particular table (again including only those who've scored five or more). Of course, Gerrard is famous for his vital goals. It's hard to think of a player who has popped up with more crucial strikes over the years; even Ian Rush struggles to match the drama of Gerrard's goals. Having said that, the captain's 13 league goals this season have included quite a few relatively meaningless strikes, when games were already well won. Percentage-wise, he's actually well down the list. Despite a lower average, he has still struck a lot of important goals in that total of 21, not least the opening-day winner against Middlesbrough. In the Champions League, it's a different story, with Gerrard scoring seven goals, all of which were highly relevant, and six of which were vital. And overall, for his all-round performances, Gerrard has been the country's player of the year; he is a player who creates countless openings in every game. When adding together the contributions this year and last, in terms of goal relevance and opposition scored against, Premiership and Champions League, to form one single all-inclusive singing-and-dancing average mark out of 5, two players lead the way. I've already spoken at length about Torres' contibution, but level with him, on an average of 4.25 out of 5, is Dirk Kuyt, whose 24 goals in that period (roughly half of Torres' total) have been of real significance. In the big games, against the big teams, or simply in the big moments of other matches, he has delivered the goods. But the most illuminating evidence, for me, remains the improvement of Fernando Torres. Rather than suffer Second Season Syndrome, as some suggested when the injury curse took away some of that sharpness, he's delivered much, much more in terms of the value of his goals, and the quality of opposition he has put to the sword. And that makes it even clearer how well Liverpool have done in the face of his prolonged absences this season – and how we have a valid ‘if only...' shout when it comes to all those games he's missed. Last season, Chelsea (twice), Arsenal and Inter Milan were victims of his goals, but only one of those goals, against Chelsea, came in the Premiership. This time, Chelsea (three times), Arsenal (twice), Manchester United and Real Madrid have suffered, despite having missed entire league games against each, and limped off in Madrid. In just three league games against Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United, he has scored five goals. He also doubled his tally against Everton from one last year to two this time. All we can do now is hope that this improvement is carried into next season, and that he has an injury-free campaign. Or, should we really dare to dream, that he can still influence this year's title race, should United drop enough points.

HULL 1-3 LFC: THE VERDICT

April 2009

Goals from Xabi Alonso and Dirk Kuyt (2) helped Liverpool to a 3-1 victory over Hull City. Here's the pick of the post-match reaction.

The local paper
Only when Kuyt produced another poacher's finish was the result put beyond doubt and Liverpool can count themselves slightly fortunate that they were not facing superior opposition on a day when they were well short of their best. Having said that, in this kind of obstinate and battling form Hull will be nobody's pushovers in the run in to the end of the season and the increasingly well studied fixture list tells us that the Tigers entertain Manchester United on the last day of the current campaign. The problem that Liverpool have is that winning their own games is no longer enough and they will probably have to rely on two of United's opponents coming up with a pair of unlikely victories if their title dreams are to stand any chance of being realised. The glimmer of hope that still exists comes from the fact that while their title rivals may currently be coming up with the wins they need to keep their challengers at arm's length, they are not doing so with their usual ease. Spurs, Sunderland, Aston Villa, Newcastle and Blackburn have all given the reigning champions a run for their money in recent weeks and that is without even mentioning their defeats at the hands of Liverpool and Fulham. All the Anfield outfit can do is hope that a couple of United's opponents are able to inflict flesh wounds that are significant enough to turn into a mortal blow but at least there is a vulnerability to Ferguson's side which indicates that such a scenario, though unlikely, is certainly not impossible. Results are all that matter now and as long as Liverpool continue to keep up their side of the bargain on that score they will give themselves a chance and that is all that anyone can ask of them at this stage of the season.
Tony Barrett, Liverpool Echo

The tabloid
It was a simple gesture, missed by the majority of Hull's biggest crowd of the season, but Dirk Kuyt's goal celebration in front of jubilant Liverpool fans was a clear signal to Manchester United that the title race is not over yet. One of the Barclays Premier League's hardest-working strikers marked his 100th league appearance in England with two goals which briefly took Liverpool back to the summit and condemned unlucky Hull to their 12th defeat since they drew at Anfield in December.
Colin Young, Daily Mail

The tabloid
Former Liverpool schemer Nick Barmby was booked for overdoing his protests as the teams left the field at half-time. And there was worse to follow for Brown's men. Folan completely lost his head in a tussle with Skrtel and a wild kick at the defender earned him a red card. That dismissal ended any hopes Hull had of repeating their draw at Anfield and they will be without Folan for three of their final four matches. Brown threw on Daniel Cousin and Bernard Mendy for Barmby and Craig Fagan but within seconds Liverpool had doubled their lead, Kuyt heading home from close range after Skrtel shot into the ground. But Hull were handed some unlikely hope when substitute Cousin skipped free down the left and his low cross was swept home by Geovanni. Kuyt made sure of three priceless points with another close-range finish in the final minute after Myhill had pushed out Alvero Arbeloa's cross.
Brian McNally, Daily Mirror

The broadsheet
Rafa Benitez might have not been quite so philosophical had he known Manchester United were just a little more than an hour away from one of those eruptions which leave rivals bemused and dismayed at the futility of their lives. Perhaps as vitally, he hadn't seen the penalty decision which would help give United their latest impetus. Still, it was a remarkable performance by the Liverpool manager after this edgy preservation of a challenge to the leaders. Rafa was so relaxed he might have been sittin' on the dock of the bay rather than the rim of the United volcano. Running like a thread through every declaration, was the sense of a manager who, win or lose in the last strides of the race with United, believes his team have come to a new competitive level.
James Lawton, Independent

The player
It was a very difficult game and the pitch wasn't the best but we got the three points which is the most important thing at this stage of the season. The first half was very tough but fortunately Xabi scored with a great strike and with it coming just before half-time it was very important for us. We had to work hard in the second half and credit to Hull who kept working hard despite them having a man sent-off. Fortunately Dirk scored two goals in the second half for us and it was good to get the three points despite us not being at our best.
Emiliano Insua

The manager
We deserved to win so I'm happy - we got three points from a difficult game. It was difficult because they worked hard and were pushing. It's always dangerous (against relegation strugglers) because you know they will fight until the end. We talked about it before. We needed to be calm and challenge for every single ball. We were a little bit nervous because the pitch was terrible. The grass was long and it was very difficult to pass the ball. That means you can make mistakes when the other teams goes to press. But you have to accept this situation because it's part of the game, and we were better in the second half. We were a little bit nervous but we showed character.
Rafa Benitez

The opposition manager
I have no excuses for the sending-off. It was justified and it will be dealt with in house. That killed us, playing 10 against 11. They were already 1-0 up and then Caleb (Folan) has made it a big easier for them.
Phil Brown

The fan
Well done lads. Four more wins is all we can do, then we'll see where we are.
Jules33, Liverpoolfc.tv forums

TOMKINS: ON THE DEFENSIVE

Paul Tomkins 24 April 2009
	There's been a lot written and said about Liverpool's defence this week, but as ever too much is being read into too little.
Now that it seems Liverpool may have faltered at the final fence, the knives are out again. It's this kind of black-or-white analysis that bugs me; I've stuck pretty closely to my view that the Reds are a very, very good team all season long. I never felt that Liverpool had to win the title this season, or indeed should be expected to. Before the season started there was talk of the need for Liverpool to be in the mix come the spring, and that has been achieved, and then some. At times it looked like the Reds might just win the title, and that shows how far they've come. But now, after a couple of freakish results, the defence is, as it were, under attack. Liverpool lost the quarter-final first-leg against Chelsea largely due to bad marking at set-pieces. On the whole, zonal marking has been very good; but when it doesn't work, we now all know the overreaction it leads to. Every team concedes set-piece goals. Earlier in the season, using man-marking, Chelsea conceded five within a few games. They switched to zonal for one game, and conceded again; but as with any system, it takes time to perfect. You can't get it right in a week. They abandoned it straightaway, but generally they've been very good at man-marking over the years, just as Liverpool have been very good at zonal marking. That awful run didn't make man-marking a totally flawed system, and it's about what suits the team. Every system has its weak points, but it usually takes a perfect cross and a perfect run to undermine them if well implemented. Liverpool are not an especially big side anymore, with Hyypia a squad player in the twilight of his career, Sissoko replaced by Mascherano, and Crouch moved on. So it does make the Reds a little more vulnerable; that's football. With Crouch and Sissoko replaced by Torres and Mascherano, the team has improved. But it is not without small drawbacks, such as less height. Zonal marking can help because you will always have players in the key areas. But that doesn't mean it can never be breached. Chelsea's win at Anfield meant the second game, when the Reds shipped four goals, was all or nothing. Liverpool played their normal game and swept to a 2-0 lead. A positioning error by Pepe Reina got Chelsea back into that match, although it was a redirected flick by Drogba that wrong-footed the keeper; any touch that close can cause big problems. The second goal was just one of those things – a shot that would have taken Reina's head off had he got in the way of it. That turned the tie totally in Chelsea's favour, and their third and fourth goals came as Liverpool obviously resorted to a very unnatural game – all-out attack, with little mind to defence. Then came the Arsenal league game, in which, bizarrely for a team who scored four goals, the away side rarely threatened. While there were bad errors on the first three Arsenal goals, each of the mistakes was punished to the full. Arshavin will probably never score four goals in a game again, and certainly not from four shots; the crazy thing is, each was unstoppable. The first and third were smashed in from fairly close range, while the second and fourth curled away from Reina, right into the corner. Three of the goals were inch-perfect (one off the bar, two out of Reina's reach), and one was hit hard and low through a crowd of players. Liverpool clearly overcommitted for the final goal, but it was a gamble that had to be taken. The mistakes leading to the goals were uncharacteristic, as I noted earlier in the week. Errors happens sometimes, even though I don't expect the coaching staff to be happy about it. But it's not like the game was littered with them from Liverpool players. In almost any other week, Liverpool would have been punished for perhaps one of the mistakes. At a push, two. But for three mistakes to all be punished, from dangerous – but not ‘open goal' – positions, was cruel. And no individual is having a torrid time in the way Nemanja Vidic did for a few games recently. And he's likely to win the Players' Player of the Year. These two recent games involved exceptional circumstances: it was cup football, even in the league. Indeed, it was almost ‘golden goal' football. Chelsea and Arsenal had also both been in excellent goalscoring form, so it's not like Liverpool have been humbled by average teams or average players. Arshavin, Drogba and Lampard can score against any defence, just as Torres has scored a total of six goals against Manchester United, Real Madrid, Arsenal and Chelsea this season, despite missing games against the three English sides, and limping off in Madrid. So all this guff about Liverpool's problem being to do with becoming too attack-minded is misleading. Liverpool weren't undone against Fulham or Blackburn in recent games, despite attacking in the same way for the majority of those matches. But if Fulham had broken away at 0-0 in the 89th minute and scored, you could have forgiven Liverpool for throwing caution to the wind at that stage of a must-win game. That same over-commitment of players into attacking areas ultimately won the Reds the match, but that's the gamble; at that stage, it's win or bust. You have to take a greater number of risks, because there's less leeway with the clock. You cannot keep your perfect balance in such situations. However, Liverpool's excellent balance between defence and attack has won a lot of matches. If the breakthrough hasn't happened, though, then of course the balance has to be tilted. And no defence can be perfect when its protection is sacrificed in the frantic search for a goal. Let's not forget, Liverpool also beat Real Madrid, Manchester United and Aston Villa by scoring 13 goals to just one in reply. There was no problem with the balance then, or the defence, although goals were scored early enough in those games to put the Reds in control (each time the Reds were leading at half-time), and the opposition did not take their chances at key moments, particularly Villa's John Carew. Against Arsenal, the problem was that the Reds' total dominance in the first 36 minutes did not lead to the opening goal, and perhaps even a second to give a cushion. Somehow, Arsenal ended up in the lead. Also, confidence doesn't just apply to the team as a whole. Separate units have their own confidence ‘ups' and ‘downs', as do individual players, obviously. No matter what defensive system you deploy, if you concede from a couple of set-pieces in quick succession, you will naturally be more nervous on the next ones; if even more go in, it can quickly breed a crisis of confidence. If you start conceding goals or making mistakes, you can get shaky at the back. Look at United, with their record-breaking defence, and how it almost fell to pieces after Liverpool put four past them at Old Trafford. Shell-shock can result. They didn't change the way they approached games, they simply suffered a psychological blow. Like Benítez, I also think Liverpool aren't playing any differently; I've been saying for each successive season that I can see improvements in the Reds' attacking play. But obviously, the understanding between players brought in in 2007 and 2008 should be stronger by 2009. And as all are at a good age, it can get stronger still. So, what's different from earlier this season? Well, Torres is not only fit but now super-sharp. Anyone who's played the game to a decent level will tell you how much difference this makes. His strike rate for games started is superb. Gerrard regained his form after a bit of a dip in the new year, although in his recent absences, Yossi Benayoun has done a pretty good impression of the captain. I think the Israeli has surprised a few people at just how good he can be. Dirk Kuyt is scoring more goals from the right than he did up front last season, and is also creating lots, too. Albert Riera has been a very important addition; even when he hasn't been at his best, he gives the side width. And even not at his best, he can find clever passes like his cross to Torres against Arsenal for the wonderful third goal. At his best, he gets to the byline and delivers dangerous crosses, as well as scoring a decent amount of goals, too. It's been a little tough at times in terms of stamina in his first full season in England, but unlike a lot of wingers, he is also a clever passer who can keep the ball moving quickly. And Xabi Alonso has been quite sublime. It's clear that he hadn't been at his old self for a couple of years, partly due to injuries. Also, his mistake on Tuesday aside, Javier Mascherano has also rediscovered his best form after looking off-colour in the first half of the season. Add improvements from Arbeloa and Aurelio at both ends of the pitch (again, Tuesday excepted), and there's a lot to feel optimistic about. All in all, it was going to be incredibly difficult for Liverpool to play a perfect final third of the season. As it happened, at times they have got pretty close; indeed, the attacking play has been better than we had any right to expect. When Robbie Keane was sold in January, it was seen as Benítez being too headstrong; and yet I can't remember the last time Liverpool played such potent attacking football. He hasn't been missed. But it was always the case that one slip would probably put paid to the title challenge. And that's a lot of pressure. Whatever happens from now until the end of May, we should celebrate how special the last two months have been, and look forward to what has been learnt – individually and collectively – being implemented next season. http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/NG164134090424-1115.htm

LFC 4-4 ARSENAL: THE VERDICT

LIVERPOOL 4 - 4 ARSENAL Tuesday 21 April 2009 20:00 , Barclays Premier League

LFC 4-4 ARSENAL: THE VERDICT Here's the pick of the post-match reaction following Liverpool's pulsating 4-4 draw with Arsenal. The local paper Liverpool were the better side and by no little distance, particularly in the first half which they dominated only to perversely find themselves trailing, and the fact that Arsenal did not win a single corner in the entire match tells its own story. The problem was that they put so much energy into their latest comeback from a losing position that they ended up running on empty in the closing stages and when Arshavin again found the target it was hard to see how the Reds could possibly get back into the game. From somewhere though, they again found the resilience and determination to come up with a result just when it seemed one would be beyond them and in doing so they kept their title dreams alive. Should Portsmouth show as much desire at old Trafford tonight as Arsenal did at Anfield then a disappointing point could yet turn into a decent one. The advantage is very much with United but no-one should write Liverpool off just yet, not in a season when anything can and so often does happen. The white knuckle thrill ride that is Liverpool's title challenge may have been driven off course but it has not been derailed and the seemingly endless succession of twists could still turn things back in their favour. Tony Barrett, Liverpool Echo The tabloid Just when you think games can't get any better, you are proved wrong, wrong, and wrong again. A week ago, Liverpool had played their part in the match of the Champions League season at Chelsea. Last night, Rafa Benitez witnessed the Premier League equivalent. Martin Lipton, Daily Mirror The broadsheet What a night, and what a match. Arshavin's four goals were stunning, four breathtaking finishes and they represented the only four clear-cut chances that Arsenal had all night. Yossi Benayoun's 93rd-minute equaliser was the last significant act in another conflagration of dodgy defences and swashbuckling strikers. Arshavin stole the show but Torres, with two goals of his own, was a giant, leading Liverpool in the absence of the injured Steven Gerrard. Just eight days ago, Benitez's side played out another eight-goal extravaganza against Chelsea in the Champions League and last night they did it all over again. Sam Wallace, The Independent The broadsheet When the dust finally starts to settle around Anfield this morning, after an extraordinary night when the old place was shaken to its foundations, it will be of little consolation to Rafael Benítez that his team have suddenly become English football's great entertainers. Oliver Kay, The Times The player It was great game for the supporters to watch but not for us because we made too many mistakes. We should have won the game. In the first-half we created four or five really good chances but then they scored with their only shot of the half. We came back strong in the second-half and led 2-1. At that point we were controlling the game but we made more mistakes and then when we had to chase it they punished us. We have the best defence in the league and the best goalkeeper too, but I think we didn't defend well as a team against Arsenal. We scored four goals and still didn't manage to pick up the three points so I think that shows we should have done better. Yossi Benayoun The boss I am very disappointed because we have conceded four goals we wouldn't normally concede. We made massive mistakes. You don't remember any saves from Pepe Reina. It's just four chances and four goals - all of them from our mistakes. You never know what can happen in football, so we have to be confident we'll have chances until the end of the season. United are in the driving seat, but we will see what happens on Wednesday. If they win it will be more difficult, but they have to win. They also have to play Arsenal, so we will see. Rafa Benitez The skipper I think that point could be big. We'll have to wait and see how big it could be for us. Performance-wise, at times we were very good. Torres and Benayoun were frightening going forward. It's not like us to concede that many goals like we have tonight. We're normally sound defensively, especially at home. Now we need United to get beaten which is difficult to do because they're a good team. But I still believe there will be twists and turns in this title race. Steven Gerrard The opposition manager The game was quality on both sides but you are only half happy when you concede four goals. We are bit less than half happy because we were 4-3 up with just a minute to go. The positive is that we have a long unbeaten run and this keeps that going, and another positive is that we have shown our quality. The negative is that three points would have been better. Arsene Wenger The fan Phenomenal commitment, great entertainment (although I'm neutral on this) and the atmosphere was unbelievable. Three players stood out for me though: Torres, Benayoun and Kuyt. Torres is getting back to his goalscoring best and, according to an Arsenal mate who was in the away section tonight, was incredible. Benayoun is growing into one of my favourite players at the club. His heroic performances of 2009 so far will never be forgotten by me. Brave, skilful and pops up with goals. Gerrard clearly loves him and I do too. And Kuyt - the effort he put in was out of this world and he produced two stunning assists. Underdogg, Liverpoolfc.tv forums http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/match/last_match/match_analysis/index.htm

TOMKINS: REDS SIGNAL GREATNESS AHEAD

Paul Tomkins 22 April 2009
	Liverpool proved against Arsenal last night that they can win the title.
Unfortunately, it may now have to wait until next year, but that was a performance of guts, tempo and quality that had the hallmark of champions. This is a very special team under construction, one that has put four past Real Madrid, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal in a matter of weeks, and five past Aston Villa. The defensive errors that marred this latest 4-4 draw certainly weren't in keeping with the rest of the display, and thankfully not in keeping with Liverpool under Rafa Benítez. All defenders make mistakes at some point in the season; unfortunately for Liverpool, most came in this one game. Perhaps that was to do with pressure, or simply human error. And yet, despite being behind three times – each goal wildly against the run of play (with the sloppy nature of the goals compounding the disappointment) – the Reds battled to the 96th minute. When Arsenal scored in the 90th minute, it had to be all over. But it wasn't. It was incredible stuff, reminiscent of the great 4-3 Newcastle games of the mid-'90s, only with extra pace and intensity, and one extra goal. For the first three goals it was very different from last week at Stamford Bridge, when Liverpool's need to score two or three more goals led to obvious gaps at the back; you can't necessarily escape being stretched like that when you have to lose your shape in search of a miracle as the clock ticks down. And Arsenal's 4th last night was similar; at that stage, a team has to send everyone forward. You take the kind of risks you would be mad too at an earlier point. Liverpool took advantage of Arsenal in the same way last season, when winning 4-2 in the Champions League. But the first three goals last night were all totally avoidable, with simple errors punished by a player who only had four decent touches of the ball. That grates, but you can't argue with Arshavin's finishing, which was sublime. (I've never seen a player do so little right for the majority of a match, and get so many goals. It was surreal.) Most of Liverpool's defending was fine; there was none of the panic seen at the other end, when by hook, crook or nook, the Gunner's scraped the ball clear, or off the line, in total desperation. It was just three small lapses by individuals by Liverpool that were heavily punished. Arsenal played with freedom, with no pressure on them to win, just an incentive to win places in the team ahead of their Champions League semi-final; and, in having to make changes, freshness from players like Arshavin and Nasri, plus the bulldozing Bendtner and strong Song. When they did attack, they poured forward with real verve and skill. But for large periods of the game they were absolutely battered. A score of 8-4 to Liverpool would have not been unfair. That's football, alas. Some days it just doesn't happen, and it looked like it would be one of those nights when the Arsenal keeper had a blinder in the first half. So this all-time classic will not necessarily help Liverpool win the title this season (unless United slip up tonight), but it shows a growing quality in so many areas of the team's play, and in its desire to win games. At times in the second half I think it was the most possessed I've ever seen a Liverpool side; utterly committed. Every man closed down space, chased lost causes that were well beyond the call of duty, stretched every last sinew. It was an Herculean effort. I've long-since said that a serious title challenge that falters is vital in eventually winning the Premiership, as a precursor; it's almost essential to get that experience of the pressure –– all the time accepting that, as newcomers to the really, really sharp end, mistakes will be made. Every Premiership title won for the first time came after a narrow miss the year earlier: United, Blackburn, Arsenal and Chelsea. It's all part of the learning process. Liverpool have improved by a good 20% this season; but maybe it needed to be 25%. These figures are fairly random (perhaps the improvement has been 30%, but needed to be 33%), but all the same, they illustrate my point about expecting too much improvement in a short space of time. You can only get so much better from one season to the next. That doesn't mean Liverpool are out of it this year, or that I think the Reds will definitely succeed next year. On their day, any of the top four can be a force to be reckoned with. And that's before the inevitable changes in the summer. But Liverpool are clearly on the up. I do think that Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea have had a lot more injuries to key players than Manchester United this season, and maybe that will shade it for them. Rio Ferdinand aside, and Ronaldo for the first couple of games and Rooney for a handful, there's been little disruption to their main men, bar self-inflicted suspensions. All teams have injuries, and big squads are a necessity, but they've not been without their match-winners as much as Liverpool have. As I've pointed out before, Liverpool also had far more disruption from international football, both in the summer and at the Olympics. United will point to the World Club Championship, and that certainly was a long trip. However, unlike international football, which scatters players far and wide, it was time together for the squad to bond, and was partly (and sensibly) used as a mid-season break, as evinced by the fact that they came back and immediately went on a long winning run. But the downside could be the fixture congestion towards the end of the season, which might make those crucial games in hand a little trickier. Time will tell. Some see this year as Liverpool's best hope, with United failing to fire on all cylinders as an attacking force. But I don't subscribe to that view; had Torres been fit all season, I might have agreed. With Torres fit to start only half of the 32 league games, and Gerrard missing more matches than he has for many years (six league games already), Liverpool have not been at their strongest on too many occasions for it not to be some kind of handicap. For Torres to start just 16 league matches, and have 13 goals (without the aid of penalties), shows just what has been missed; especially as in five or six of those starts he was nowhere near match fit, and playing to find sharpness. He will always be rested now and again, like any other player, but you cannot get by without such quality for long periods of time. No-one can say for certain, but I also have very little doubt that he would have made the difference in a few of those games that were drawn earlier in the year; enough to suggest that even more points at this stage would have been realistic, which would have given the Arsenal game a very different complexion, and perhaps less desperation. But I accept that ‘what ifs' work either way, and that all teams will have their own lists. Despite the absence of key attacking talent, there have been some players coming to the fore. Liverpool are the Premiership's top scorers, and to have had their two biggest goal threats missing for so many of them shows what improvements have been made elsewhere. Dirk Kuyt's crosses for the first two goals were superb in terms of technique (to add to his usual lung-busting work and clever movement), while Yossi Benayoun, who impressed me during his time at West Ham, has emerged as a really special player now that he's settled into life at Liverpool; the player I was hoping he could be for the Reds. I remarked a few weeks ago that both have only scored important goals, and that was again the case last week for Kuyt and this week for Benayoun. The hope now is that Arsenal take this goalscoring form into two titanic encounters with Manchester United, and dent their confidence in the process; enough to make a third meeting, in the penultimate league game, far from a formality in terms of the title. Arshavin, who misses the European games, should be fresh for that one. It remains United's to lose, but all the time Liverpool are making gains. And if all the Reds are left with is ‘close but no cigar', it can still serve as a serious warning ahead of next season. Even the greatest buildings were constructed brick by brick. http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/NG164115090422-1352.htm

從《紐約時報》談起-歐陽文風

2009-04-14 20:56

《紐約時報》是紐約人的驕傲。它創刊於1851年，150多年來，主要賣的不是新聞，而是主筆的社論、記者的專題報導，還有名家的專欄評論。

這份報紙最引以為榮的專題報導，恐怕是獲得1972年普立茲新聞獎的《國防部最高機密文件》，一篇有關美國如何捲入越戰始末的專題報導。這系列文章震驚全美，《紐約時報》動用30多名記者與編輯，一共用了兩個多月時間，只做一件事：即研究7000多頁長達250萬字的政府機密文件，再濃縮成30萬字的專題報導，其財力、人力與專業，由此可見一斑。

其中一天，為刊登有關專題，原本76頁的報紙增加至96頁，其中整整16頁，全是《國防部最高機密文件》。這是我至今讀過，在一天內刊登最長的專題報導。這種事，大概只有《紐約時報》做得出，也大概只有在美國可能發生。

該系列專題見報後，第二天美國司法部長電報要求該報立刻停止報導，並把所有文件歸還國防部。兩個小時後，該報回電表示拒絕聽命。結果政府狀告《紐約時報》，後來《紐時》勝出。

大馬媒體沒有《紐約時報》擁有的主客觀條件，因此若拿《紐時》與大馬媒體比較，是不公平的。《紐時》是我們追求的理想，不是比較的對象。

當我還在《星洲日報》任專題記者和駐美特派員時，星洲媒體集團編務總鑑劉鑒銓不只一次對我說， 鑒於國內箝制新聞自由的惡法，《星洲日報》不可能言所欲言，但至少可以不說謊話誤導讀者。這是我在《星洲日報》任職時，他對我唯一的要求。除了他，現在的 集團總編輯蕭依釗從來沒有命令過我寫任何一篇或一段我不願意寫的違心之論。我對我的前上司有基本的尊重，因為我想，這是國內有良知的媒體至少可以做的事， 我們不可能像美國媒體一樣制衡政府或監督政府，不能完全說真話，但至少可以不說假話。

《溝通平台》一名叫天涯劍客的讀者上週寫了一篇〈網絡讀者得了便宜又賣乖〉，非議一些評論人對《星洲日報》的批評，他以為鄭丁賢的〈與納吉面對面〉文章不亢不卑。我持不同意見，認為該文並沒有做到劉鑒銓立下的標準。

相對而言，鄭丁賢無疑是極出色與敢言的主流媒體評論人，雖然他那篇文章我不認為有明顯謊話成 份，但不可否認的是，該文還是出現不少沒必要的贊詞與美言。大馬箝制新聞自由的惡法，令媒體工作者不能自由說真話，但這些法令並沒有命令我們歌功頌德，那 些評論人批判的正是那些沒有必要的贊詞。

我在此批評，因為我對《星洲日報》還抱有希望。因為我相信《星洲日報》這些年來，在某方面還是有所進步；至少，它讓天涯劍客指名道姓的批評這些評論人，這是負責任的作風。我希望我善意的批評（雖然不一定人人認同）也能見報，讓各造參考，甚至辯論。

《紐約時報》還有一樁令人津津樂道的美事，就是它曾容忍該報主筆為文駁斥社長。如果《紐時》可以做到這一點，我相信大馬最大的中文報應該不可能禁止一名專欄作者評論其主筆的一篇文章。

網絡作者和報紙作者確有不同生存環境，這點天涯劍客的觀點是正確的。但我不認為網絡作者“得了便宜又賣乖”，因為他們並沒有忽視惡法，也沒有“只是”欺侮自由受限的報紙作者，至少我認為他們並沒有欺侮歐陽文風這位報紙作者。

星洲日報／言路‧作者：歐陽文風‧自由撰稿人‧2009.04.14
http://opinions.sinchew-i.com/node/9528

側寫：鄭丁賢‧與納吉面對面

側寫：鄭丁賢‧與納吉面對面

2009-04-01 08:56

納吉剛接任巫統主席，即將上任首相；在這個萬事起頭，緊鑼密鼓的階段，他訪問星洲日報。

這個行程，來得相當突然，也讓星洲日報同事感到意外。

納吉如此主動和媒體接觸，而且選擇一家民營中文媒體，這項舉動，不但前所未有，也有特別意義。

我們只有短短的一兩天時間做準備。倉促之間，有期待，也有猜測。

畢竟，報章和政府的關係錯綜複雜，雙方有各自的角色、責任和權力基礎。報章傳播資訊、表達民意、監督施政，往往和政府有不同的觀點和意見。

如果雙方缺少溝通，缺乏互信，就容易產生猜疑和對立。

更何況，迎接一位新任政府領導人，就是一段嶄新關係的試驗。

要瞭解華社要求期望

於是，我們抱持平常心，歡迎納吉到訪；希望這一次的見面，能夠良性溝通，促進瞭解。

訪問行程的重點，是星洲媒體集團高層同事和納吉的交流會。原本安排30分鐘時間，因為互動頻密，而延長到超過一個小時。

交流會上，星洲日報同事要知道納吉的媒體政策，尤其是對新聞自由和媒體空間的看法；此外，也關心納吉對華社各種問題的態度和應對。

相對的，納吉希望瞭解媒體生態，以及華社對新領導人的要求和期望。

不對媒體採高壓手段

星洲媒體集團董事經理劉鑑銓坦率向納吉提出，政府應容許媒體有表達意見的自由，政府也不應任意懲罰媒體。

納吉的回應相當正面，表明政府不會對媒體採取高壓手段，但也希望媒體給政府平衡的報導。

對於華社問題，他承諾要有效和平等的處理。

這是一個良性互動，良好施政，建立互信的起點。

言談之間，納吉展現自信和幹練，以及掌握議題的高度能力；對於未來政策，也隱然有全面的腹稿。

對於國家的治理，納吉提出他的理念，重點是“全民的馬來西亞”（One Malaysia）；尊重多元社會，團結各族人民，推動國家進步。

顯然，納吉要走出過去的影子，也要跨越巫統和馬來族群領袖的侷限。

他準備接近非馬來社群，塑造全民首相的地位。

從巫統大會到這次交流會，他提出許多開明和進步的施政綱領，契合人民的期望，也符合進步國家的需要。

接下來，就看他的落實意願和執行魄力。

正如他所說，人民應該以他的實際表現來評斷他，不是以各種猜測和刻板印象來看待他。

這是一項公平的要求。

【熱點新聞：納吉出任首相】

星洲日報‧文：鄭丁賢‧2009.04.01

UEFA hail Chelsea versus Liverpool match among 10 classics

17 April 2009

PARIS: UEFA have included Chelsea’s thrilling 4-4 Champions League quarter-final draw with Liverpool in a list of 10 classic matches to have graced the competition.

Chelsea went into Tuesday’s second-leg game with a 3-1 lead from the away leg and hit back from 2-0 and 4-3 down to secure a 7-5 aggregate victory that sets up a semi-final meeting with in-form Spanish giants Barcelona.

Three more Liverpool matches feature on the UEFA list, published on their official website on Wednesday.

First up is the Reds’ dramatic 4-2 victory over fellow Premier League heavyweights Arsenal at the quarter-final stage of last season’s competition.

Liverpool led 2-1 with six minutes remaining and looked to be on course for the last four, before an incredible slaloming run from England winger Theo Walcott set up Emmanuel Adebayor for a goal that put Arsenal in front on the away goals rule.

With extra time beckoning, Steven Gerrard converted a penalty after substitute Ryan Babel had been brought down by Kolo Toure, with the Dutchman then firing home in added time to clinch Liverpool’s progress and a 5-3 aggregate win.

But the Merseysiders succumbed to an equally sensational defeat in the quarter-finals of the 2001-02 competition, when a late goal from Brazilian defender Lucio earned German side Bayer Leverkusen a 4-2 second-leg win that took them into the last four.

Liverpool’s most famous Champions League performance, however, came in the final of the 2005 competition in Istanbul.

Trailing 3-0 to Italy’s AC Milan at half-time, Rafael Benitez’s charges stormed back into the game in the second period, scoring three times to take the match to extra time and then clinching victory in the penalty shoot-out thanks to the heroics of Polish goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek.

Milan had been the victims of a similarly jaw-dropping comeback in the 2003-04 competition, which also features in UEFA’s list.

Having beaten Deportivo La Coruna 4-1 in the first leg of their quarter-final tie at the San Siro, the Rossoneri travelled to Depor’s Riazor stadium fully expecting to progress.

But the Spanish underdogs stunned them by racing into a 3-0 lead by half-time, with a late goal from Fran capping a remarkable and unprecedented turnaround.

Dramatic comebacks are unsurprisingly prominent on UEFA’s rundown, which features Monaco’s 3-1 quarter-final destruction of Real Madrid in 2004, in which a goal from Monaco’s Fernando Morientes, on loan from Real, helped dump his shell-shocked employers out of the competition.

Also included on the list are Barcelona’s 5-1 (6-4 aggregate) quarter-final victory over Chelsea in 2000 and Fenerbache’s 3-2 spotkick win against Sevilla in last season’s round of 16, after both legs had finished 3-2 to the home side.

Manchester United’s memorable 1999 triumph earns them two places in the list.

Inspired by Irish midfielder Roy Keane, Alex Ferguson’s men fought back from 2-0 down to beat Juventus 3-2 in Turin in the semi-finals, having scraped a 1-1 draw in the first leg at Old Trafford.

More drama was to follow in the final in Barcelona, when injury-time efforts from substitutes Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer secured a scarcely believable 2-1 triumph against Bayern Munich. — AFP

http://www.thestar.com.my/sports/story.asp?file=/2009/4/17/sports/3710127&sec=sports

PAUL TOMKINS: IF ONLY...

Paul Tomkins 14 April 2009
	As football fans, we always think 'if only' this, or that, had happened.
In our minds at least, every result in history can be turned on its head by going back to one defined point in the match and altering what occurred. Over the years there have been some pretty big moments like that. Even last week, I ended up lamenting that Jose Boswinga wasn't fit for Chelsea, because his stand-in scored two goals. Of course, at the start of the game, that seemed like a stroke of good fortune for Liverpool. There's the 'if only' a player did something different, although I do hate it when commentators say 'if he'd done this, he'd definitely have scored'. Going back to Fulham, Andrea Dossena 'only had to keep his header down' to 'definitely' put Liverpool 1-0 ahead as he powered Gerrard's cross against the bar. I remarked at the time that there was the small matter of the keeper, and this weekend Kuyt kept his header down, from an almost identical situation, and Paul Robinson stretched out a hand to save it. Aim for the corners, and you increase your chances of scoring if you connect right, but also your chances of putting it wide. So nothing is ever that simple. It doesn't hurt to think about different things might have been, but nothing is ever certain. For example, if Steven Gerrard had been wearing Peter Crouch's boots away at Stoke, his late, full-stretch prodded effort may have gone in instead of hitting the post. Then there'd have been none of this overblown talk of mind-games affecting Liverpool. But had the Reds beaten Stoke, and avoided the subsequent poor run in form, that blip may be striking now, at a point where Liverpool are instead looking sublime in the league. Sometimes you go on a great run and it breeds confidence, but then it might lead to overconfidence; also, the end of a good run can sometimes hit harder. Any time a sense of invincibility is breached, it can have exaggerated consequences. Of course, with the Butterfly Effect, changing one thing in a match instantly changes everything else, just as changing one results alters subsequent performances, for better or worse. Unless it's the very last kick of a game, or the last game of a season, there's always time for something to yet again alter the outcome. At half-time in Istanbul, there wouldn't have been a Liverpool fan in the world who wouldn't have wiped the scoreboard clean if given the chance. Indeed, most would have settled for two Milan goals being chalked off and a full-time 1-0 defeat were it offered. I know my fear as I sat dazed at the Ataturk was one of total humiliation in the impending 45 minutes; winning the game was not a realistic option. And yet, had it been 0-0 at half-time, there's a very good chance Milan would have gone on to win. The chances of them losing from 3-0 were negligible. But to be the best moment in many Liverpool fans' footballing lives, it needed to be mission (virtually) impossible. And maybe it needed Milan to think that they had already won, too. Then there's the ability to freeze a match - with an omnipotent remote control - at any given point, and, without knowing what will happen next, have your player do something else. When I saw Vladimir Smicer lining up to shoot with the Reds back in the match at 3-1, I'd have paused the action, and had him do something far more sensible. Calm down, Vladi! You'll never score from there... I think I'd have said the same to Xabi Alonso on a few occasions, too, when shooting from his own half. I mean, what was he thinking? I can also run through a range of great 'nearly' goals, that were almost scored over the decades. What if Bernard Diomede's spectacular overhead kick on his debut against Sunderland, which crossed the line, had not been incorrectly ruled out? Would he then not have disappeared without trace? Or what if Ian Rush had stormed out of the club when, as a kid in Bob Paisley's office, he threatened to do so when the canny manager tried to stoke him up? What if Graeme Souness had said 'Yes' when approached about Eric Cantona in 1992? What if Bill Shankly's resignation hadn't been accepted in 1974? What if Bob Paisley's resignation, soon after, had been accepted? Perhaps we wouldn't now be talking about a 19-year wait for the league title now had Everton's Tony Cottee been marked tighter on February 1991, in an FA Cup tie that ended 4-4. Maybe a change that the Liverpool manager wanted to make late on in that game would have seen the Reds progress, and momentum grow. Kenny Dalglish was already questioning himself over losing his ability to make crucial decisions; a hesitancy that was crystallised for him when, with the Reds leading 4-3, he wanted to shift Jan Molby back to sweeper, but instead deferred to his assistant, Ronnie Moran, and kept things as they were. Cottee equalised again, and the next day Dalglish quit. There's no way to say for sure that the Reds would have gone on to win the league, but they were in pole position at the time of that morale-sapping draw - a game in which the Reds had led no fewer than four times. And Dalglish certainly needed a break for the good of his health, that much was clear. But perhaps it could have been staved off until the summer. All of these, and a million and one other moments in time, would have altered the destiny of games, of seasons, and of careers. But if I could change one thing, it would be an FA Cup encounter away at lowly Carlisle United - at the time languishing in the old Fourth Division. Liverpool won 3-0, but if I turn back time, I would make Liverpool have a terrible game, and crash out. 'Disaster', the headlines would have read. Instead, the club appeared to be marching towards another double under Kenny Dalglish. No-one could have imagined that the victory would be the first link in a chain stretching to the 15th of April later that year. That game, and subsequent wins against Millwall, Hull City and Brentford, were setting the Reds on a collision course with Hillsborough. We now know where that January victory led, but at the time it was just another result. If only any of these games had ended in defeat... In the players doing their jobs so well, a massive event was created - an FA Cup semi-final - to be held at a stadium known for its dangerous bottleneck leading to the Leppings Lane turnstiles, and where problems had occurred in the past. In terms of subsequent safety at football matches, a lot of good came from Hillsborough; almost certainly saving other lives in the future. It's just so sickening that it took 96 lives to act as a wake-up call, and little solace to those who lost loved ones. Maybe it's fanciful, but I'd like to think that if Liverpool never even made it to that fateful semi-final, not only would that distressing occasion never have existed, but football safety would have been addressed regardless. Instead, Liverpool overcame Carlisle, and before too long we were left with the heartbreak of a real disaster.

看哪！首相的新衣…

作者／唐南发专栏 Apr 14, 2009 01:11:38 pm

【乱石崩云／唐南发专栏】“马来西亚需要的是世界级，且以事实为根据的报导。媒体在报导中必须公平与负责。至关重要的是，我们在关乎国家未来方面应打造一个具建设性的论争。至于提供阴谋论和谣言的新闻事业，我相信我们可以超越之。”(首相纳吉于《媒体之夜》的讲话，2009年4月6日)

“政治人物总爱说他们要的是公平的报导，其实他们真正渴望的是正面的新闻。”(Andrea Mitchell，美国国家广播公司白宫通讯记者)

“夫专制之国，其性质恒喜同而恶异。彼以为异者，乱之媒也。”(法国思想家孟德斯鸠名言，章士钊译)

前首相阿都拉虽然优柔寡断，辅政的驸马爷凯里（右图左一）却毕业于盛产政治家的英国牛津大学哲学、政治与经济系，决非吴下阿蒙。2006年杪发生了蒙古女子碎尸案，凯里虽然未必是幕后操盘者，但此事件有利于卡住岳父身边虎视眈眈的挑战者则毋庸置疑。

尽 管阿都拉最终依然被迫提早下台，这宗震惊海内外的谋杀案对当时副首相纳吉的形象已然造成严重破坏。加上之后一连串涉及国防部的军购丑闻，纳吉成了我国有史 以来第一个在争议中登场的领袖；成功就任后为了修复形象而疲于奔命，完全没有蜜月期。你能说凯里被排除在内阁之外，纯粹只是纳吉俯顺马哈迪的心意，而没有 一丝报复或惩戒的成分吗?

由于知道本身缺乏公信力，纳吉确实对媒体颇具用心。套句中国共产党人爱说的话，就是“做了不少工作”，又是走访报社，又是“勤走基层”。但从他在《媒体之夜》的讲词中，明显可以看到这位新任首相虽然要以全新姿态出现，其思维还是停留在党国威权的框架中。

纳吉意在检视另类媒体

纳吉表示要透过营造“蓬勃、自由和知情”(vibrant, free and informed)的媒体，让人民参与建国论述而毋须担忧后果，却丝毫不提升斗小民和贤达硕彦如何能够在种种恶法钳制的环境中畅所欲言？他以解除在野党刊 物禁令邀功，希望获得肯定，却刻意忽视此举的消极意义。积极的作法，除了废除《内部安全法令》，《印刷与出版法令》、《煽动法令》和《官方机密法令》，代 之以其他具体而不笼统的法令之外，别无他途。

纳吉重新为政府和媒体的关系定位，看似颇具诚意，却是千举万变，其道一也，乃要媒体为其议程服务。“全民的马来西亚”不过一个空洞苍白的概念，但在过去数周各语文媒体报章炒作下，俨然成一家之言。只是纳吉担心其“理念”受挑战，更怕民间不断有人翻其旧帐，所以特别强调“负责任的报导”(responsible reporting)，说道：

“当我谈到负责任的报导时，并非指你们有义务支持政府。对我而言，负责任的报导意味着以更怀疑和批判性的角度看待各类大量充斥我们政治论述的指控和谣言。”

显然，纳吉是在要求新闻从业员更尖锐地检视另类媒体中那种种对其不利的报导，而非诚心希望主流报章媒体认真监督与制衡其政府。

纳 吉既要得到人民的尊重，又要人民负责任，这些当然都是合理的要求。但与此同时，他也要懂得媒体和民间本应有权对具公职身份的国家领导人提出合理的质询。谁 能说追问为何C4炸药能够在国防部长不知情的情况下为人所用是不负责任的提问？谁能说撰文批判纳吉“于国民服务期间死亡的营员不过占了总人数的一小部分” 的谈话乃漠视人权，就是对政府首脑不敬？

只是，从殖民地时期以降，这片土地的人民从来就没有权力决定本身的言论是否“负责”，因为执政者已经借助立法垄断了论述和诠释权，把所有质疑党国教条的人都视为潜在的罪犯。对此，中国第一代自由主义思想家章士钊有其精辟见解：

“政府刻刻假定国民之违法，是直狗马国民也；是直盗贼国民也…如此，则人权之危险不可思议。”

媒体吹捧新首相展现奴性

因此，作为第四权，媒体和国家/政府之间保持一种持异议和怀疑的态度是责无旁贷的；说要“强化媒体与政府的互信”无疑是利益挂钩甚至是奴性的表现。而近日各主流媒体卯足全力协助纳吉推销其“全民的马来西亚”议程，整体表现就像法国左翼哲学家Louis Althusser笔下的“意识形态的国家机器”(Ideological State Apparatus，缩写正好是ISA)

当然，媒体在特定情况下，例如天灾人祸或国家处于作战状态中，资讯为当权者全面掌控，仰赖政府乃迫不得己，唯事后也应主动调查政府是否曾于紧急状态期间滥用职权或捏造事实以补偏。英国的《卫报》和美国的《纽约时报》确实曾经支持2003年的伊拉克战争，但也为此付上信誉代价，战后道歉之余，也必须积极揭发当初的资讯漏洞以“赎罪”。

就算受到到客观环境限制，为恶法所困囿，也不该自降报格，为新任领袖涂脂抹粉。《星洲日报》在2004年搞了一个《布衣首相阿都拉》的吹捧特辑，让其副总编辑郑丁贤“感觉良好”；2009年又依样画葫芦，给纳吉歌功颂德，郑丁贤还要求读者“让政绩说话”。但C4炸药来历不明，参与国民服务计划的营员死于非命，难道不足以构成评断纳吉执行能力的佐证？

吾人应当感谢副首相慕尤丁对《马来西亚前锋报》一番“华人不感恩”的侃侃而谈，即刻捅破了纳吉的新衣，希望也让中文报业里头仅存的那一丁点“新首相效应”立时化为乌有。敬人者，人恒敬之。纳吉和其同僚既然不把人民的尊严放在眼里，其威信一再受到挑战也只能说是咎由自取。

名句精华

潘健成曾說過一句話：“今天會做得很好，是因為昨天做了很多對的事；你要把每天的事情都做好，每件事情做好，很自然的，每一天，都可以叫著成功。”

張立德‧誰該來聽潘健成講座

2009-04-13 19:42

上星期六，一場大雨並沒有阻擋熱情的讀者慕名來聆聽出身適耕莊的年輕企業家潘健成的講座。涼快的週末夜晚，我在報館外遇到一班又一班的年輕人，他們帶著輕鬆愉快的腳步離開會場，收獲是豐富的，心靈是飽滿的。

潘健成的履歷和成功經驗，不必再贅述。他的背景經驗其實再平凡不過，相信不少人都有類似的過往。不過最難得的是，他和合作伙伴們在享受成功時，仍然保持一顆赤字之心。如

果不是因緣際會，潘健成相信會一直在他的實驗室裡埋頭工作；在媒體前曝光，成為眾人學習典範，應該不在他的人生規劃裡頭。

張愛玲說出名要趁早。潘健成和同伴研發了全球第一顆USB快閃記憶體單晶片，不是為了出名，而 是以科技造福社會。潘健成的成功能為年輕人帶來很大的啟發。年輕人不應該只看到他現在的成功，很表面空泛的以為，他當時腦袋想的是如何賺取人生第一桶金。 潘健成的價值觀和人生觀，才是年輕人必須學習的特質。

潘健成在求學時候就把基礎打得很穩，這可說是每一位成功人士的特質。很可惜，很多人只是看到成功人士所享有的財富和榮耀，沒有真正去領會他們的心路歷程。時下很多年輕人做甚麼都想一步就登天，不能吃苦，基礎又扎得不夠深不夠穩固。急功近利，結果許多人能靠著某些管道快速致富，但是也很容易就從高處跌下來。

潘健成曾說過一句話：“今天會做得很好，是因為昨天做了很多對的事；你要把每天的事情都做好，每件事情做好，很自然的，每一天，都可以叫著成功。”希望這一句話能夠讓更多人有所啟發。

此外，對於政府，潘健成也是一面鏡子。他獨中畢業，去台灣深造、創業並成功研發新產品。獨中生在大馬是遺孤子，統考成績政府不承認，但是這不是絕路，獨中生靠自己的雙手和頭腦，加上深厚的教育基礎，成績更是優秀。

科研方面大馬起步慢，空間受到局限，很多條件的限制也相對不利於創業。很多人包括潘健成，在外 國有更廣闊的天地，有更大的自由度發揮才華，都選擇不回來。對於他們而言，不是他們不愛國，而是國家沒有給他們一片揮洒創造的天地。人才的大量外流，要知 道原因，官員上周六其實應該來聽潘健成講座。

星洲日報／情在人間‧作者：張立德‧言論不代表本站立場‧2009.04.13

LIVERPOOL 4-0 BLACKBURN: THE VERDICT

LIVERPOOL 4 - 0 BLACKBURN ROVERS Saturday 11 April 2009 12:45 , Barclays Premier League

LIVERPOOL 4-0 BLACKBURN: THE VERDICT Fernando Torres scored two fantastic goals as Liverpool beat Blackburn Rovers on the day the Kop paid tribute to the 96. Here's the best of the post-match reaction. The local paper First came the solemn remembrance, then the celebration - it is difficult to imagine a more fitting way of commemorating the impending anniversary of British football's worst ever sporting disaster. As ever at this time of year, Hillsborough dominated everyone's thoughts at Anfield on Saturday. So much so that when Fernando Torres scored the game's opening goal he raised his fingers to the heavens in tribute to the 96 Liverpool fans who lost their lives following the tragic events of April 15, 1989. Blackburn's Stephen Warnock - a former Liverpool player and lifelong Red - embodied the enduring class and dignity of one of the Premier League's most traditional and respected clubs by laying a floral tribute in front of the Kop before kick-off. But perhaps the greatest tribute of all came on the pitch where Liverpool's players delivered the kind of performance for which this truly special football club is so revered and which encourages so many thousands of people to follow them wherever they play. Tony Barrett, Liverpool Echo The national newspaper The stunning finishes which despatched a ramshackle Blackburn team merely posed the question where Rafa Benitez's side might be if Torres' campaign had not been so severely disrupted by a succession of hamstring injuries. The breathtaking shot Torres battered past Paul Robinson - a strike which carried shades of Marco van Basten's effort for Holland against Russia at Euro 88, even if the angle was not as acute - and the deft header which followed, took his Premier League tally to 11 in just 19 games. Paul Joyce, Daily Express The tabloid Fernando Torres took a ball from Jamie Carragher on his chest, swivelled magnificently and volleyed from an acute angle over Paul Robinson into the far top corner. It was goal not a million miles away from Marco van Basten's memorable strike in the 1988 European Championship final, and one which destroyed any pretensions Rovers may have held that they could take anything from Anfield. David Maddock, The Mirror The player These goals are for the 96 and their families because I know that Saturday was a special day for them with it being the home game closest to the anniversary. Fernando Torres The player He is the best striker in the world. The goals that he scores are just unbelievable. Look at the first one today. It was incredible. He makes it look so simple too. Yossi Benayoun The boss To play a good game, score goals and not concede - it was the perfect response by the players. Rafael Benitez

Doctor Shigeaki Hinohara

At the age of 97 years and 4 months, Shigeaki Hinohara is one of the world's longest-serving physicians and educators. Hinohara's magic touch is legendary: Since 1941 he has been healing patients at St. Luke's International Hospital in Tokyo and teaching at St. Luke's College of Nursing. After World War II, he envisioned a world-class hospital and college springing from the ruins of Tokyo; thanks to his pioneering spirit and business savvy, the doctor turned these institutions into the nation's top medical facility and nursing school. Today he serves as chairman of the board of trustees at both organizations. Always willing to try new things, he has published around 150 books since his 75th birthday, including one "Living Long, Living Good" that has sold more than 1.2 million copies. As the founder of the New Elderly Movement, Hinohara encourages others to live a long and happy life, a quest in which no role model is better than the doctor himself.

Doctor Shigeaki Hinohara JUDIT KAWAGUCHIPHOTO

Energy comes from feeling good, not from eating well or sleeping a lot. We all remember how as children, when we were having fun, we often forgot to eat or sleep. I believe that we can keep that attitude as adults, too. It's best not to tire the body with too many rules such as lunchtime and bedtime.

All people who live long regardless of nationality, race or gender share one thing in common:None are overweight... For breakfast I drink coffee, a glass of milk and some orange juice with a tablespoon of olive oil in it. Olive oil is great for the arteries and keeps my skin healthy. Lunch is milk and a few cookies, or nothing when I am too busy to eat. I never get hungry because I focus on my work.. Dinner is veggies, a bit of fish and rice, and, twice a week, 100 grams of lean meat..

Always plan ahead. My schedule book is already full until 2014, with lectures and my usual hospital work. In 2016 I'll have some fun, though: I plan to attend the Tokyo Olympics!

There is no need to ever retire, but if one must, it should be a lot later than 65. The current retirement age was set at 65 half a century ago, when the average life-expectancy in Japan was 68 years and only 125 Japanese were over 100 years old. Today, Japanese women live to be around 86 and men 80, and we have 36,000 centenarians in our country. In 20 years we will have about 50,000 people over the age of 100...

Share what you know. I give 150 lectures a year, some for 100 elementary-school children, others for 4,500 business people. I usually speak for 60 to 90 minutes, standing, to stay strong.

When a doctor recommends you take a test or have some surgery, ask whether the doctor would suggest that his or her spouse or children go through such a procedure. Contrary to popular belief, doctors can't cure everyone. So why cause unnecessary pain with surgery I think music and animal therapy can help more than most doctors imagine.

To stay healthy, always take the stairs and carry your own stuff. I take two stairs at a time, to get my muscles moving.

My inspiration is Robert Browning's poem "Abt Vogler." My father used to read it to me. It encourages us to make big art, not small scribbles. It says to try to draw a circle so huge that there is no way we can finish it while we are alive. All we see is an arch; the rest is beyond our vision but it is there in the distance.

Pain is mysterious, and having fun is the best way to forget it. If a child has a toothache, and you start playing a game together, he or she immediately forgets the pain. Hospitals must cater to the basic need of patients: We all want to have fun. At St. Luke's we have music and animal therapies, and art classes.

Don't be crazy about amassing material things. Remember: You don't know when your number is up, and you can't take it with you to the next place.

Hospitals must be designed and prepared for major disasters, and they must accept every patient who appears at their doors. We designed St.... Luke's so we can operate anywhere: in the basement, in the corridors, in the chapel. Most people thought I was crazy to prepare for a catastrophe, but on March 20, 1995, I was unfortunately proven right when members of the Aum Shinrikyu religious cult launched a terrorist attack in the Tokyo subway. We accepted 740 victims and in two hours figured out that it was sarin gas that had hit them. Sadly we lost one person, but we saved 739 lives.

Science alone can't cure or help people. Science lumps us all together, but illness is individual. Each person is unique, and diseases are connected to their hearts. To know the illness and help people, we need liberal and visual arts, not just medical ones.

Life is filled with incidents. On March 31, 1970, when I was 59 years old, I boarded the Yodogo, a flight from Tokyo to Fukuoka. It was a beautiful sunny morning, and as Mount Fuji came into sight, the plane was hijacked by the Japanese Communist League-Red Army Faction. I spent the next four days handcuffed to my seat in 40-degree heat. As a doctor, I looked at it all as an experiment and was amazed at how the body slowed down in a crisis.

Find a role model and aim to achieve even more than they could ever do. My father went to the United States in 1900 to study at DukeUniversity in North Carolina. He was a pioneer and one of my heroes. Later I found a few more life guides, and when I am stuck, I ask myself how they would deal with the problem.

It's wonderful to live long. Until one is 60 years old, it is easy to work for one's family and to achieve one's goals. But in our later years, we should strive to contribute to society. Since the age of 65, I have worked as a volunteer. I still put in 18 hours seven days a week and love every minute of it.